The Ford Barn

Vic Piano · 06-01-2011, 10:22 AM

I just opened up a gas tank, in a car that has been stored for 14 years. The tank still had several gallons of (what once was gas but now has taken on a new identity) in it and it smells really bad

. I will not be able to remove the gas tank from the car for several weeks and I’m trying to find out what, if anything, I can use to help dissipate the odor?

flatheadernie · 06-01-2011, 11:40 AM

mr Vic, try a strong ex fan , put your close neighbors up in town at the motel hope for norther to come in soon!! LOL ernie n tx or pour in a couple of gallons of acetone in tank, sit for a day punch a hole at low pointand drain, you are removing tank to repair rt? one hole wont be that hard to fix? I know I am crazy and I hope to have help soon >

e

rotorwrench · 06-01-2011, 12:50 PM

I really can't think of anything you can put in there that won't require a larger hole to get back out that the drain plug (if it is so equipped). Methyl Ethyl Keytone (MEK) will disolve the varnish but it may come up in chunks that won't come out other than through the filler or sender hole. I always used Drano crystals to remove the varnish but it always comes out in chunks so I figure on removing the tank.

MEK or Acetone would tone it down a bit if you can drain it all back out of there OK. Of course then you would have to worry abouth the stinky mixture you just drained out.

Bruce in southern OH · 06-01-2011, 06:13 PM

Use Listerine, if you have gas on your hands and what to make smell go away rinse in Listerine, worked in a 91 Olds 98 plastic tank with 1 1/2 old gas, Bruce

Dee · 06-02-2011, 01:42 PM

Vic, if that gas has been in the tank for that long you probably have more than just bad gas? Gas will turn into a tar like, very smelly subtance that will stck to the inside of the tank and clog the lines. Just went thru this with a '48 coupe that sat dormat for several years.

Vic Piano · 06-02-2011, 01:47 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee

Vic, if that gas has been in the tank for that long you probably have more than just bad gas? Gas will turn into a tar like, very smelly subtance that will stck to the inside of the tank and clog the lines. Just went thru this with a '48 coupe that sat dormat for several years.

Dee, I do have that gunk in the tank and I'm sure it is in the lines and carbs as well, I haven't gotten that far yet, I'm trying to figure out how to kill the odor because I won't be able to get the tank out for another two weeks.

B-O-B · 06-03-2011, 10:30 PM

Vic you might give fabric softener sheets a try or mothballs.

Shadetree · 06-04-2011, 06:50 AM

Vic,
Nothing smells worse and it sticks to everything, rags, tools you name it, If inside your whole garage will smell of it. My neigbor was working on an old gasoline cultivator last weekend and told me acetone would dissolve the `goop'. But it will still have that unique odor.

Shadetree

Displayman · 06-04-2011, 08:29 AM

I had 15 yr. old gas in the tank of a 47 Merc. that I bought.
It smelled so bad. I opened the drain on the bottom of tank, but nothing came out
until I poke a phillips screwdriver thru the crap on the bottom.
The smell was so bad it stunk up our 36 x 45 garage that you couldn't stand it.
I bought a new tank and left the old tank with the guy I bought the new one from.
God luck,
Bob

Tim Ayers · 06-04-2011, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-O-B

Vic you might give fabric softener sheets a try or mothballs.

Mothballs creates another odor that is also hard to get ride of.

Dee · 06-04-2011, 09:11 PM

Vic, you might get lucky and not have the carb and lines full of crud. I was lucky on this '48 coupe. Seems the gas evaporates out of the carb and what ever gas was in the lines seemed mostly run back to the tank. There was a some crud in the line and luckily lacquer thinner cleared it up but the tank had to be cleaned and sealed.

06-01-2011, 10:22 AM	#1
Vic Piano Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Odessa, FL Posts: 7,611	Odor Eliminator? I just opened up a gas tank, in a car that has been stored for 14 years. The tank still had several gallons of (what once was gas but now has taken on a new identity) in it and it smells really bad. I will not be able to remove the gas tank from the car for several weeks and I’m trying to find out what, if anything, I can use to help dissipate the odor? __________________ Imagination is more important than knowledge.

06-01-2011, 11:40 AM	#2
flatheadernie Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 229	Re: Odor Eliminator? mr Vic, try a strong ex fan , put your close neighbors up in town at the motel hope for norther to come in soon!! LOL ernie n tx or pour in a couple of gallons of acetone in tank, sit for a day punch a hole at low pointand drain, you are removing tank to repair rt? one hole wont be that hard to fix? I know I am crazy and I hope to have help soon > e

06-01-2011, 12:50 PM	#3
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 17,410	Re: Odor Eliminator? I really can't think of anything you can put in there that won't require a larger hole to get back out that the drain plug (if it is so equipped). Methyl Ethyl Keytone (MEK) will disolve the varnish but it may come up in chunks that won't come out other than through the filler or sender hole. I always used Drano crystals to remove the varnish but it always comes out in chunks so I figure on removing the tank. MEK or Acetone would tone it down a bit if you can drain it all back out of there OK. Of course then you would have to worry abouth the stinky mixture you just drained out.

06-01-2011, 06:13 PM	#4
Bruce in southern OH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Proctorville Posts: 1,604	Re: Odor Eliminator? Use Listerine, if you have gas on your hands and what to make smell go away rinse in Listerine, worked in a 91 Olds 98 plastic tank with 1 1/2 old gas, Bruce

06-02-2011, 01:42 PM	#5
Dee Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Port Orchard, WA Posts: 67	Re: Odor Eliminator? Vic, if that gas has been in the tank for that long you probably have more than just bad gas? Gas will turn into a tar like, very smelly subtance that will stck to the inside of the tank and clog the lines. Just went thru this with a '48 coupe that sat dormat for several years.

06-03-2011, 10:30 PM	#7
B-O-B Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ft Mohave,Az Posts: 2,013	Re: Odor Eliminator? Vic you might give fabric softener sheets a try or mothballs.

06-04-2011, 06:50 AM	#8
Shadetree Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Cottageville, WV Posts: 1,535	Re: Odor Eliminator? Vic, Nothing smells worse and it sticks to everything, rags, tools you name it, If inside your whole garage will smell of it. My neigbor was working on an old gasoline cultivator last weekend and told me acetone would dissolve the `goop'. But it will still have that unique odor. Shadetree __________________ Son, you will never blow an engine up in high gear.

06-04-2011, 08:29 AM	#9
Displayman Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Hampshire, Illinois Posts: 392	Re: Odor Eliminator? I had 15 yr. old gas in the tank of a 47 Merc. that I bought. It smelled so bad. I opened the drain on the bottom of tank, but nothing came out until I poke a phillips screwdriver thru the crap on the bottom. The smell was so bad it stunk up our 36 x 45 garage that you couldn't stand it. I bought a new tank and left the old tank with the guy I bought the new one from. God luck, Bob

06-04-2011, 09:11 PM	#11
Dee Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Port Orchard, WA Posts: 67	Re: Odor Eliminator? Vic, you might get lucky and not have the carb and lines full of crud. I was lucky on this '48 coupe. Seems the gas evaporates out of the carb and what ever gas was in the lines seemed mostly run back to the tank. There was a some crud in the line and luckily lacquer thinner cleared it up but the tank had to be cleaned and sealed.